Seoul to install additional charging stations for electrical vehicles

In an effort to generalize clean fueled vehicles, Seoul will install 60 charging stations for electric vehicles at gas stations by the end of this year.

"There are about 2,800 EVs being operated in Seoul and there are about 200 charging stations installed throughout the city. That's about one charging station covering about 14 vehicles," Kim Hoon-ki, the team manager at the Seoul city government's clean energy vehicle policy, told Aju News Wednesday.

Although there are enough charging stations in Seoul for EVs for now, the city plans to up its capacity. "Seoul plans to aggressively promote the use of EVs and to have about a total of 10,000 vehicles by the end of next year," the official said.

The city increased the number of charging stations to 207 places such as large shopping malls, parks, hotels and public parking lots, up 72 percent from last year's 120.

Gas stations were picked for public convenience. Kim asked, "Where do you go to fill up your car?" "We started with an idea that people would easily find and get to charging stations and feel more comfortable if they are located at nearby gas stations."

Now, an average of one charging station is installed at designated places and sometimes an EV driver has to wait for a long time. Kim said government facilities in 25 districts of Seoul will house charging points to help EV owners charge vehicles at ease.